Live Brave

Stupid Christians

Attached is a picture of a Christian tract I received in place of a good tip after excellent service.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Dan, why are you calling these Christians stupid? Don't they believe what you believe? Isn't the grace of God the best tip you ever could receive?"

You don't want to hear my answer then. To somebody who doesn't know Christ and works their butt off for tips, this is an insult. All they are thinking is, "Wow. Christians suck. Stupid Christians."

So Christians: you are representing Christ. Why would you insinuate that Christ is cheap? Obviously you are! But Christ is not!

Christians: tip well. Jesus met the needs of His people before teaching them. If you are seriously going to make it known you love Jesus, TIP WELL! YOU REPRESENT CHRIST!

You may be the only bit of Jesus people see during their week! Quit acting a fool!

And don't even get me started on tracts.

Now I'm all fired up. Lord, have mercy.

Eat, Sleep, Repeat. (Special Guest Blogger: Sean O'Leary)

I love music.  I love the way you can pick songs to synchronize with your mood and bring your life to a perfect harmony for those four minutes.  I love the way music flows through life, and how it can be seen in every different situation.  I love how it inspires, consoles, and humbles those who listen.  I love how music has a personality, and can fit perfectly with that of the listener.  I love music.  

Anyone who knows me knows that this is true about me:  most of the time I will have my ipod playing in my ear.  Occasionally I will play my music for all to hear, although sometimes that doesn't imply enjoyment.  Music is a big part of my life and a big part of what fuels me, so when God uses music to burn a fire in my heart, I rejoice.  One of the bands I have been big into lately is Copeland, and if you haven't heard of them I strongly urge you to check them out.  The album I have been listening to for the past few days is titled "Eat, Sleep, Repeat.", hence the title of this note.  This is the second time I have been inspired by God to use music as my tool for his work, and both times it had nothing to do with the actual music.  However, it still fuels my passion. 

The album title describes the lives of many, many Christians I know.  Moreover, it describes the lives of millions of people in general.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  It is a viscous cycle that wastes the lives of those caught inside its lure.  Yes, this cycle has such a lure to it, as boring as it sounds.  Too many people have no urgency to leave their comfort zone, and when this is the case... Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Sound luring now?  Maybe even familiar?  

Stepping out of your comfort zone is an essential part of making an impact for Christ.  And I am not talking about the occasional mission's trip, or stepping up for the annual family prayer at Thanksgiving dinner.  Stepping out of your comfort zone has to be a part of your everyday life.  Doing what God tells you to do is the only way you can grow in faith, and if he is not asking you to step out of your comfort zone than we need to have a little chat because i think you may be worshipping the wrong god.  Stepping out of your comfort zone can be as simple as holding the door open for someone with a smile, wishing them a good day with an extra little "God Bless."  Of course this has to be done in an audible tone and without ducking for cover afterwards.

Another thing that disturbs me is when people do good deeds, but are so disgruntled about it.  If you are going to give someone an attitude at the door like they are wasting your time since your holding it for them, please just don't bother, you are doing more harm than good.  This is obviously an exaggeration because anybody getting pissed about holding the door for someone has far more problems than i can cover in one note.  Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men."  If you were holding the door open for Jesus himself I'm sure a smile would be plastered on your face, with a Christian flag waving in your free hand as you absolutely BELT "Holy is the Lord."  

Too many Christians are caught in this cycle.. Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  The astounding thing is that they believe they are doing God's work.  I cannot count how many times I have heard someone say something like "That person needs Jesus,"  and then continued on with their day.  WHAT??!!!??  How much more cut and dry can "Talk the talk but not walk the walk" get?  You are caught in a cycle that has you believing you are living brave for Christ, but this is an illusion as you are a coward.  John 4:35 is meant for this generation of Christians who are not only stuck in this cyccle, but content with it... Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  "WAKE UP!!! LOOK AROUND!! The fields are already ripe for the harvest!  The harvesters are paid good wages and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life!  What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!"  

If you are stuck in this cycle you need to wake up.  You need to wake up and start listening to God, because he is calling you to reap what he has sown.  God doesn't call people to an average life.  Wake up.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat... It is as boring as it sounds.  And I don't know if you've heard, but God doesn't do boring.

Sean O'Leary is a freelance writer, blogger, church planter, missionary, student at Manhattan College for aeronautic space engineering, and an absolute beast of an athlete. He is usually seen on his campus handing out free donuts.

The Social Birthday

So my birthday is February 10th.

This may come as a surprise to some of you because you just recently wished me a Happy Birthday on March 10th. Let me explain.

I did not want a flood of social birthday wishes coming in on my Facebook wall, so I changed the date to March 10th. I still had about 20 people bypass the system and post on my wall, and I also got a few texts and phone calls. This is pretty normal.

I am not sure how anybody wished each other birthday before Facebook and cell phones, but it seems to be 90% or more of the way we do so now.

So my efforts were rewarded by the people who knew me best calling or texting, and no 762 wall posts on that one special day.

Then came March 10th.

I left it as a joke and as an experiment to see how many people would notice, but I was going to take it down the day before. But I forgot. Because I am an idiot.

I had 90 wall posts waiting for me when I got home. I had a few texts, emails, and calls as well. It created some drama that I couldn't believe! And the funny thing is, about 15 of those 90 posted on my wall in February on my real birthday! I even received a few phone calls from people who called me just one month prior! From the same people!

This is how dependent we are on things we didn't have 5 or 10 years ago. Some of the people who called me were genuinely confused that Facebook reported my birthday on March 10th. It was taken as truth just because Facebook said it. Can you imagine?

Our news comes from twitter. Our business networks come from LinkedIn. Our favorite band's main websites are from MySpace and purevolume. And knowledge of important events is found on Facebook. The social network has taken over our lives!

This "experiment" has led me to announce a fast from ANY social networking from tonight until Saturday. If you want to join me I really think it will be good for your health. I will also be fasting from the internet for 24 hours this Friday for 24 hours.

Please hear me: I am not saying Facebook and twitter are evil, but I am saying we have not only let them distract our lives, but also control them in ways. Ask yourself this: "When was the last time I went on the internet/my phone and didn't check my Facebook/twitter right away?" I mean I forget what I am doing most of the time because I am lost on these networks! I can even be hanging out with people I love and be staring at my phone or computer! WHAT A JERK!

I am putting out a call to join me. Fast from Facebook, twitter, and any other social network websites from now until Saturday. What do you say? This may help you. This may ruin you. That may be a good thing. Take some time to reflect on your real relationships. Your relationship with your family and friends. Your relationship with Jesus. Who knows? You might even make a new relationship - or have some epiphany that you otherwise would not have had with all the distraction!

And maybe for once you can make a phone call... or talk to somebody IN PERSON!

*To be clear I am calling for this fast from 8pm tonight (Monday) to 12pm noon on Saturday. Join me even if just for 24 hours in the middle of the week!

Always Going Home

I'm sitting here in Carlisle, PA, waiting for traffic to pass and having a bite to eat. I am coming home from my trip to South Carolina, where I got to first stop in DC (actually Alexandria, VA - AWESOME town) on the way to chill with my man Dan Frank, head down to South Cackalackie to meet my new friend Curt Hanna (and stay with his family), and get ROCKED by God at the Perry Noble Coaching Network at NewSpring Church. I also got to see my sister on the way back up in Lynchburg, VA. I am so blessed!

But now all I can think about is home. I am heading home and I can't wait to see my wife. I can't wait to see my children. I can't wait to see my friends. I can't wait to see our church and watch what Jesus is going to do with it.

But as I sit here, I realize I am ALWAYS heading home. No matter where I am or am going, I always have a homesickness with meeting Jesus. This is not a suicidal thought or any kind of masochistic lifestyle that I've chosen, but I am one day going to "die in faith" as Hebrews says it, and I get to go HOME. To live is Christ, to die is gain. Why? Because we get to meet Jesus! We get to go home!

No matter what I'm doing, I truly am homesick, and that is why we (people who follow Christ) live the way we live. We truly believe this is not all there is. We are called to love God and others while on earth, and then we go home.

I am so excited to continue this journey home. Please join me.

3 Lessons I Learned from LeBron James’ Decision

It is the talk of the town. Every city wanted him. Only one got him. Many people are saying he went to Miami to win championships, but that they will be cheap and bittersweet. LeBron himself said that is ridiculous because championships, no matter where they are won, are never cheap. It is what he was striving for his entire career. Cleveland is bitter, New York and Chicago are jealous, but Miami is sitting pretty, hoping to start a dynasty.

 

Some people are calling LeBron a shrewd businessman. Others, a traitor. The Cavs' owner fired off a harsh letter. Many fans are crushed. Others rejoice. It is hard to judge the situation because the point of playing a game is to win. But also, the point of living a good life is to have honor and character. I am in no way intending to solve that problem for you, nor do I think this decision is even worth talking about for more than a few days. What is done is done, and it is just a game. But here are 3 lessons I learned from “The Decision”.

#1: Many of us will sacrifice face in order to get what we want.

Whether you think LeBron was right or wrong is irrelevant. What is true though is he lost a lot of respect in Cleveland. Again, whether it is a merited loss of respect or not is not up for debate. It is still a fact that he lost respect. LeBron knew he would lose face not only in Cleveland, but also in much of America. He sacrificed his image so that he could put himself in the best possible position to win. That is what he wanted. Many of us do the same. We will do whatever it takes, in good situations and bad, to get what we want, even if we look stupid, disloyal, pushy, or irreverent. This can look good or bad, but the fact is that we do what is best for ourselves a lot of the time, when we should be looking out for everybody as a whole, and more importantly, for what God wants. If it is what He wants, then sacrificing face in honorable. If it is a selfish notion, then it is a cowardly act.

#2: Many of us place godly attributes on normal people.

LeBron is a man. He can make mistakes. Did he make one last night? Who knows? What I do know is, that if you put too much power in a man’s hand, he will let you down. If you expect a man to be God, he will fail. If you put a man on a pedestal, the second he does something you dislike, you will dethrone him. The problem is we start to blame God for this kind of stuff. When a pastor falls into sexual sin we point at God to blame. When our father’s turn out to be drunks, we blame God. When the leaders of countries make terrible decisions, we ask God why He let that happen. And even when sports figures turn out to be somebody we thought they weren’t, we make a mockery of them and lose faith altogether. The fact is that glory and godly attributes have no place in the hands of man (please do not confuse this with the call to be righteous FOR God). 

#3: Many of us care way too much about things that don’t really matter. 

Honestly, basketball is just a game. It is a fun game. And like all sports, I am intrigued at the highest level of play. I want to watch champions. I want to see loyalty. I want to be a part of sports history knowing that I was there when it happened. But the fact is, sports are games. They are good for us, but if they turn into what we worship, they are absolutely bad for us. You may say that LeBron is an example to kids – and he is! But this decision is about a game, not about how we live life. I truly hope LeBron finds the classiness he had when he played in Cleveland while he plays in Miami, because we need role models. But in reality, we care WAY too much about a game, and not enough about how we live our lives EVERY DAY. 

You want a role model? BE ONE. That is what matters.